Electromagnetic scorer for bowling

ABSTRACT

A scorer for bowling comprises scorekeeping wheels for units, tens, and hundreds, a frame-counting wheel, and a memory device. The player is informed of the infrequent situation in which he must score the first fall of a frame. The player actuates buttons corresponding to strikes, spares, or a knock down of less than 10 pins, and an electrical method utilizing the McClister instant scoring mathematics actuates the wheels to show the resulting score. The button-pushing accomplishes the same general sequences electromechanically as described in the mechanical type of scorer of the parent case.

n 1 mimic [72] Inventors Harry A. McClister; deceased, late of Morrisville by v lRuth W. McClister, Ertecutrix, 91 N. Delmarr Ave, Morrisville, Pa. 19067; The Fidelity Bank, Coexecutor, Philadelphia, Pa

Oct. 18, 196% Apr. 6, 1971 Continuation-impart oft application Ser. No. 577,293, June 13, 1966, now Patent No. 3,406,902, dated Oct. 22, 1968.

Appl. No. Filed Patented ELECTROMAGNETIC SCORER FUR BOWLING 4 Claims, 5 Drawing 1F igs.

273/54 lint. Cl G06m 3/06 lFieidl of Search ..235/92 (26) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,590,444 3/1952 Millman 273/43 3,093,374 6/1963 Rothberg 273/43 3,184,583 5/1965 Bawtinheimer 235/92 3,295,849 1/1967 Miller 273/54 Primary Examiner-Maynard R. Wilbur Assistant Examiner-Robert F. Gnuse Attorney-John R. Ewbank SCT: A scorer for bowling comprises scorekeeping wheels for units, tens, and hundreds, a. frame-counting wheel, and a memory device. The player is informed of the infrequent situation in which he must score the first fall of a frame. The player actuates buttons corresponding to strikes, spares, or a knock down of less than 10 pins, and an electrical method utilizing the McClister instant scoring mathematics actuates the wheels to show the resulting score. The button-pushing accomplishes the same general sequences electromechanically as described in the mechanical type of scorer of the parent case.

, riii Patented April 6, 1971 4 3,575,44m

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1

Patented April 6, 1971 3,513,440

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ELEETIIKOMAGNE'I'IIE SCUM TOM MUWILIING CROSS REFERENCE This application is in part a continuation of copending parent case Ser. No. 557,293, filed Jun. I3, 1966, now US. Pat. No. 3,406,902 of Oct. 22, 1968, all the details of which are deemed here reiterated. Reference is also made to sister application entitled POWERED SCORER FOR BOWLING filed Aug. 19, 1968.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The mathematical system for instant scoring described in the parent case requires a memory device having four categories, neutral, spare, strike, and double strike, and means for advancing or retarding the brain (i.e. the memory device) in accordance with the achievement last entered. During frames I-9, the principal'relationships prevail. The frame counter is not advanced when the first ball of a frame is entered under the relatively infrequent conditions when such is required, as when the brain is in either spare or double strike and the first ball of a frame is less than ten. A knockdown of less than ten counts only its nominal value except when in strike status of the brain. The actuation of the strike button can advance the tens dial It), 20, or 30, depending upon whether the brain is in neutral, either spare or strike, or in the double strike status. If after a double strike, there is a knockdown of less than it), the brain is retarded from double strike to strike when entering the first ball. A spare can count Iii or 2t), depending upon whether theretofore the brain was in neutral or strike status. No spare is possible while the brain is in spare or double strike status, for the entering of the first ball of the frame retards the brain before the accomplishment of a spare.

After the ninth frame has been scored, different relationships are required, and further changes are required after each of frame MD and Bonus l, the brain always having neutral status just prior to entering any score for Bonus 2.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, a McClister type of scorer features a plurality of electromechanical components which are actuated by buttons employed by the player for entering his accomplishments. The mathematics of instant scoring are embodied in an electrical method having the circuitry and switching to incorporate the general features of the mechanical method of the parent case. In certain embodiments of the invention, a sequence control is employed for assuring the correct timing of the actuation of the score dials, framecounter, and brain. One or more pulse generators may be employed to provide the electrical impulses at the correct periodicity for proper actuation of electromechanical components a plurality of times.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES In the accompanying drawings, FIG. I is a partially brokenaway view of one embodiment of the scorer. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a button and some of its associated mechanism. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a sequence control. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a pulse generator adapted to provide a preselected and adjustable number of pulses. FIG. 5 is a schematic showing of a modified embodiment of the invention providing for a printout of each entry upon an adding machine tape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. ll-d can be seen in FIG. ii to have a general resemblance to the scorer of the parent case or the sister case. A shell 2W, unit dial 2211, unit knob 222, tens dial 231, tens knob 222, hundreds dial 241i, hundreds knob 2A2, framecounter dial 2%, framecounter knob 292, and indicator W5 instructing the player when the first ball of a frame must be scored, are each of the general type shown in the parent case. Electrical switch buttons With-6W are employed for a knockdown less than 110. Spare button 650 is employed when ten pins are knocked down by two balls of a frame. Strike button sen is used when ten pins are knocked down by the first ball of a frame.

As shown in FIG. I, electromechanical means 7M are adapted to advance unit dial 22ll by from 1 to 18 points, depending upon whether any of buttons 60It5b9 are depressed. When the brain status is that of neutral, spare, or double strike, there is normal advancement of the unit dial. If during frames 1-9, the brain is in strike status, then the unit dial 221 is advanced at double the number selected amongst btlllbllli9. The brain retarding controls assure the return of the brain to neutral before the scoring of e the second bonus ball, and a partial retardation before the first bonus ball. A controlled number of electrical pulses are sent to the electromechanical means 701 to advance theunit dial. The net operation is substantially the same as in the scorer of the parent case, but by appropriate electrical methods instead of purely mechanical methods.

Electromechanical means 702, shown in FIG. 11, are adapted to advance tens dial 2311 for increasing the score by MD, 211), or as when the strike button is depressed and the brain has a status of neutral, strike, or double strike respectively. When the spare button 16% is depressed, the tens dial is advanced to increase the score by It) or 20 and the brain has a status of neutral or strike respectively, there being one or two pulses sent to the electromechanical means 702.

The framecounter dial 291 is adapted to be advanced by a pulse received by the electromechanical means tns whenever any of the buttons is depressed except when a unit button is depressed while the brain has spare or double strike status. The framecounter shows the frames which have been entered on the scorer, and after litl shows a step of Bonus I and the twelfth quasi-frame, if any, or any ending of the game, is shown by the return of e the framecounter dial to zero. The brain advances from the ninth frame to zero, or from frame lid to zero, or from B-I to zero in accordance with the number of bonus balls (zero, or I, or 2) to which the player is entitled. The feasibility of advancing the frarnecounter by 11, 2, or 3 steps in response to the combination of brain status and the achievements of the llilth frame permits the elimination of the separate mechanism for indicating the number of bonus balls available to the player. The player starts the game with the framecounter at zero, and continues to play until the framecounter again shows zero, thus :reminding him that the game is ended. Such flexibility also permits the shifting of the brain when scoring the tenth frame to be different from the brain shifts during frames i-El.

An instruction 3% informs the player when the first ball of a frame must be scored, that is, when the brain has a status of either spare or double strike. The brain advancing steps can be accomplished by electromagnetic means 7M and the brain retarding by electromagnetic means 705. An electrical switch Nib shifts the electric power of a battery to one of the systems representing the four status categories of the brain, so that shifting of the brain can be deemed a shifting of such switch 706. Although the circuitry exists for each status, the circuitry used is dependent upon the brain status, permitting actuation of a button to accomplish any of several results, depending upon what has been the previous scoring in the game.

The electromagnetic means 7 features a pawl 7110 and a rod 71111 which is urged in one direction by a spring 7112 but can be pulled in the other direction to advance by a single step a gear I113 whenever an armature 711d is pulled into a solenoid 7115 by the energization thereof by a pulse of electrical energy. Each of the electromagnetic means 701, 702, 703, and 7% also features corresponding parts.

The player enters the score by an appropriate sequence of depressions of buttons Mid-MW, spare button 650, and strike button but), of FIG. I. A schematic showing of the manner of a sequence. A latch 612 maintains the button in the depressed condition during the series of electrical and mechanical operations. An electromechanical means 613 operates to unlatch the latch 612 after the required steps have occurred. Each electromechanical means is shown schematically as if it were a combination of a solenoid and a spring-urged armature linearly shifted by an electrical impulse and then returned to its rest position by a spring, but alternative electromechanical arrangements are feasible. While the button is depressed, a series of switches 800, 825, 850, 875 are closed, shown schematically as contacts between a member moving with the button and adjacent fixed components of switches. Such switching is shown schematically as divided into four parts for the four possible conditions of the brain, but only one part would be energized by brain switch 706 at any one time. A plurality, such as a score, of switches are utilized for each brain status, but the schematic drawing simplifies the illustration by showing a switch.

As shown in FIG. 3, a sequence control 614 includes four sets of switch control systems, corresponding to the four conditions of the brain. After a button has been depressed, and the current has been directed from the brain switch 706 through a button switching means 800-899 to initiate advancing of the sequence control 614, the general chronology is that which accomplishes the operations described in the parent case. The sequence control 614 comprises a shaft 615 having four cylindrical switch components 616, 617, 618, and 619, corresponding to the four conditions of the memory device. A coil spring 620 urges the sequence control to a rest position. A gear 612 has teeth corresponding to the various steps of the sequence of operation. A pawl 623 is adapted to advance the gear a tooth at a time whenever an electrical impulse is received by a solenoid 624. A spring 625 returns the pawl to its rest position after each actuation. A detent 626 urged by spring 627 normally locks gear 621 in the position to which it has been advanced by the pawl. A solenoid 628 pulls both detent 626 and pawl 623 out of engagement with gear 621 to permit coil spring 620 to return the sequence control 614 to its rest position after the necessary steps have been taken. The sequence control includes a switch 629A which is turned on to energize solenoid 628 at the end of the advancement of the sequence and which is turned off when the sequence control returns to its rest position. A spring 628-S urges rod 628-R toward its rest position, but is weaker than the power of the solenoid 628 when the electrical current prompts the shifting of the detent 626 and pawl 623 into a withdrawn position for the return of shaft 615 to its rest position.

Gear 621 of the sequence control 614 is advanced stepwise by controlling the electrical impulses to solenoid 624 so that each impulse arrives just after completion of a step. The electrical switching 629 B-Z controls electrical method of using the mathematics of instant scoring, and all equivalent means which electrical engineers could be stimulated to design are intended to be embraced in the description of an illustrative embodiment.

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a pulse generator 630 having many features resembling the sequence control 614. A shaft 631, a gear 632, a locking detent 633, an advancing pawl 634, a detent spring 633-8, a pawl-advancing solenoid 635, a pawl spring 635-S, a solenoid 636 for shifting rod 637, a spring 636-S urging rod 637 to its rest position, a rod 637 for disengaging the locking detent 633 and pawl 634 from gear 632 during the return of the shaft 631 to its rest position, and coil spring 638 for returning shaft 631 to its rest position, generally resemble the corresponding parts of the sequence control. Although the sequence control always advances to the end of the program, the pulse generator differs in that it advances from its rest position only to a degree selected to provide the desired number of pulses from to 18, and then it returns to its rest position. A member 639 rotating with shaft 631 includes a bumper which can be stopped by any of a series to toggles 900918 at points along the circumferential path of the b u mper, each toggle being capable of being set by a solenoid and automatically returned to its rest position, a

suitable switch being included in the bumper. It should be noted that the pulse generator can go through the cycle of starting from rest position, advancing to the solenoid toggle for the number zero, and be automatically returned from there to its rest position, inasmuch as the sequence control is designed to include certain steps involving the operation of the pulse generator, and is responsive to the completion of the return movement of the pulse generator.

Although the sequence control advances with sufficient intervals for each stop to permit the completion of the necessary steps, the pulse generator differs in that it advances from rest position to the selected number with significant speed. A switch 640 provides a make and break contact for automatic repetition of the pawl actuation at a speed controlled in part by the regulation of the spring 635-S. It is important that the speed of oscillation of the pawl 634 be consistent with the operable speed of oscillations of the electromechanical units 701-705, so that a reliable master-slave relationship is maintained.

While the shaft 631 is advancing, a multilobed cam 641 having lobes 642 oscillates a finger 643 to close a switch 644. The pulses from the switch 644 constitute the output of the pulse generator, and such pulses actuate electromechanical units 704 or 705 up to two times, 702 and 703 up to three times, and 701 up to 18 times. The switch 644 is disconnected from the electromechanical units 701705 while shaft 631 is returning to its rest position. Thus after a number has been selected to actuate a toggling solenoid 9009l8 and after the initial pulse has been sent to advancing solenoid 635, the pulse generator automatically closes switch 644 the number of times (0 to 18) corresponding to the number selected, and then the pulse generator 630 returns to its rest position.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. l4 is described hereinafter.

Continuing with the basic description of the drawings, attention is directed to FIG. 5. Two tapes of the type of paper employed in adding machines, but containing the coating such that the underneath layer is a copy of the top layer, are fed through a printing zone. An upper tape 920 is suitable for removal by the player as a record of his performance. A lower tape 921 is retained by the proprietor of the bowling alley as a part of the records for auditing the operations, and may be collected on a spool 922. The combination of the two tapes, conveniently designated as 923, is fed through a printout zone 924 having some of the characteristics of an electric adding -machine. A total score is printed out by unit, tens, and hundreds wheels 925,926,927 corresponding to dials 221,231, and 241 respectively. Other useful information is printed out by similar printing wheels 928-935. At the end of a game, a bowler can take home a tape showing in various column such information as the units of a framecounter dial (designated as U), the memory prior to the achievement (designated as M), the achievement (designated as A), the memory carried over after the accomplishment (designated as C), the delta or marginal increase in score by such accomplishment using such instant scoring (designated as D), and the total score thus achieved (designated as T). The first ball of a frame is designated by F, and bonus balls by B-l and B2. The memory status of neutral, spare, strike and double status are designated by N,P,S, and D respectively. The accomplishments are designated by the pin knockdown, by spare (or coded as P), and by strike (or coded as S).

An illustrative sample of the type of tape prepared in the printout zone 924 is a follows:

The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. includes unit buttons such as 601 and a spare button 650 and a strike button 660. The instruction 305 to score the first ball can feature a light which glows when such scoring is required. A shell 940 can resemble the shell of a small electric adding machine. The internal electrical method for the printout embodiment is substantially the same as described in connection with the display dial embodiment of FIGS. 1- 1, and accordingly is not repeated. Obviously certain engineering features of electric adding machines can be utilized to modify the stationary model, which could utilize the electric power from utility lines instead of having the features generally associated with battery-powered devices.

OPERATION OF THE SCORER The operation of the scorer of FIG. 5 closely enough resembles the operation of the scorer of FIGS. 11-41 that the latter will serve for the former. It is convenient to designate certain steps by numbers in describing the operation of the scorer, even though a certain amount of overlapping of the steps could be featured in certain embodiments. The various general stages of the operation can be described for educational purposes as follows:

1. In the button-pushing step, a strike button 660, or a spare button 650, or 1 of the unit buttons 600-609 is depressed, and the latch 612 secures the button so that the switches 000- 099 provide electrical paths for various steps.

2. The starting of the sequence control 6141 by a pulse of current to solenoid 62 1 to actuate the pawl 623 to engage the gear 621, which advances stepwise in response to the action of detent 626. Until the end of the advance of the sequence control, the last operation of each step is the advancing of the sequence control to the next step, and thus shaft 615 is moved from rest to what is called step 3.

3. The toggle-setting for score-entering step will set the zero toggle if the zero button has been pushed, or some number from 1 to if another button has been pushed, the number being influenced also by the previous brain status. After one of toggles 900-910 of the pulse generator has been set, the sequence control 6141 is advanced to step 4.

4. The score entering step is accomplished by the wheels (dials, printing cylinder, etc. or other means for communicating the score) being advanced by actuation of the electromechanical units 701 or 702 by the controlled number of electrical pulses from the pulse generator 630.

5. The return step of the pulse generator is automatic, and the other portions of the scorer are quiescent during such return, and upon the shaft 631 of the pulse generator 630 coming to its rest position, the sequence control 6141 is advanced to step 6.

6. The toggle-setting for the brain adjustment will set one of the toggles representing zero, 1, or 2, and after the toggle is actuated, the sequence control is advanced to step 7.

7. The brain adjusting step occurs as the pulse generator 630 sends pulses either to brain advancer 7041 or brain retarder 705, unless the pulse generator was adjusted for zero, in which case the shaft advances from rest position and then is stopped when it advances far enough to reach the toggle cor responding to zero.

8. The return step of the pulse generator after the brain adjusting is automatic and the other portions of the scorer are quiescent.

9. The toggle-setting step for the framecounter is for a number of the group consisting of 0, 1, 2, and 3. After one of the toggles 900903 of the pulse generator 630 has been set, the sequence control 614 is advanced to step 10.

10. The framecounter wheel 291 is advanced by 0, 1, 2, or 3 numbers to correspond with the toggle selected in step 9, and the pulse generator 630 is stopped after it has sent the selected number of pulses to electromechanical unit 703.

ll. The return step of the pulse generator 630 after the framecounting step utilizes the power of the coil spring 638,

and after the shaft 631 is at rest position, the sequence control is advanced to step 12.

12. The return of the sequence control 614 toward its rest position is initiated by a pulse of current to solenoid 620, thereby withdrawing the detent 626 and pawl 623 from engagement with gear 621, and permitting spring 620 to act. The electromechanical means 613 unlatches the latch 612 and thus permits spring 611 to exert its action so that both the but ton and the sequence control shaft 615 return to their rest positions.

In each of steps 3, 6, and 9m which toggles are set for the pulse generator, the number selected is dependent upon whether it is one of frames 1-9, or frame 10, or Bonus 1, or Bonus 2, and upon what has been the brain status, and upon which button was depressed. In each of pulse transmission steps 4, 7, and 10, the previous accomplishments are also significant. Some of the relationships are quite straightforward. For each of neutral, spare, and double strike status, each unit button is adapted to actuate a toggling solenoid 900-909 corresponding to its number, but for strike status of the brain, each unit button actuates a toggling solenoid corresponding to double its number.

The abbreviations employed in discussing the tape printout are employed in charts showing the settings of the toggle solenoids and the units actuated in certain steps of the operation of the scorer how much and which units actuated in steps:

U M A 3 4 6 7 9 1-9 N 8 8 701 0 1 P 8 8 701 1 705 0 S 8 16 701 2 705 l D 8 8 701 1 705 0 N P 1 702 1 704 1 S P 2 702 l 705 l N S 1 702 2 704 1 P S 2 702 1 704 l S S 2 702 1 704 1 D S 3 702 0 1 10 N 8 8 701 0 3 P 8 8 701 1 705 0 S 8 16 701 2 705 3 D 8 8 701 1 705 0 N P 1 702 0 2 S P 2 702 2 705 2 N S 1 702 0 l P S 2 702 l 705 1 S S 2 702 2 705 1 D S 3 702 2 705 1 B-l N 8 8 701 0 2 P 8 8 701 1 705 1 N S 1 702 0 1 P S 2 702 1 705 1 3-2 N 8 8 701 0 1 N S 1 702 0 1 Because the framecounter can be advanced 0,1,2, or 3 units, it is not necessary to have separate steps of advancing and then retarding the memory unit subsequent to the entry of the ninth frame, but to enter directly the algebraic sum of the operations. As thus interpreted, the chart has general applicability to either the mechanical scorer of the parent case or the electromechanical scorer of the present invention. It is the electrical method of bringing about these relationships which is featured in the present invention.

We claim:

1. In a bowling scorer, the combination of:

a memory device shiftable amongst any of four categories designated as neutral, spare, strike, and double strike status;

score totalizing means communicating to a player the cumulative bowling score subsequent to the zero adjustment of the scorer;

framecounting means;

a strike button adapted to be actuated when ten pins are knocked down by the first ball of a frame;

electromechanical means associating the strike button with the score-totalizing means, memory device, and framecounting means for instantly increasing the score by 10 when the strike button is actuated while the memory device is in neutral status, for instantly increasing the score by 20 when the strike button is actuated while the memory device is in either spare status or strike status, and for instantly increasing the score by 30 when the strike button is actuated while the memory device is in double strike status;

a spare button;

electromechanical means associating the spare button with the score-totalizing means, memory device, and framecounting means for instantly increasing the score by 10 when the spare button is actuated while the memory device is in neutral status and for instantly increasing the score by 20 when the spare button is actuated while the memory device is in strike status;

a group of unit buttons, one for each of the numbers 0 through 9;

electromechanical means associating each unit button with the score totalizing means, memory device, and framecounting means for instantly increasing the score by the selected number when a unit button is actuated while the memory device is in any status other than strike status and for instantly increasing the score by twice the selected number when a unit button is actuated while the memory device is in strike status;

electromechanical means associating the memory device with the unit buttons, strike button, spare button, and

framecounting means for making any necessary adjustment of the memory device, subsequent to advancing the score after actuation of any button for maintaining the memory device in accurate correspondence with the previous event of the game; and

electromechanical means responsive to any button actuation except unit button actuation during spare or double strike status for advancing the framecounting means subsequent to any adjustment of the memory device.

2. A scorer of claim 1 in which the framecounting means is advanced to zero at the end of the game for instructing the player about the bonus balls previously earned.

3. A scorer of claim 1 in which an instruction to score the first fall of a frame is actuated when the memory device is in spare status or double strike status.

4. A scorer of claim 3 wherein at least one markable tape is fed through a printout zone, wherein said score totalizing means prints out a total score by units, tens, and hundreds printing means, wherein printing means print out the number of the frame the memory status prior to the achievement, the achievement entered into the scorer, the memory status carried over after the achievement, the marginal increase in the score by such achievement, the first ball of a frame, and the bonus balls, and in which said instruction to score the first ball of a frame is an electrical signal which is actuated only when such scoring is required. 

1. In a bowling scorer, the combination of: a memory device shiftable amongst any of four categories designated as neutral, spare, strike, and double strike status; score totalizing means communicating to a player the cumulative bowling score subsequent to the zero adjustment of the scorer; framecounting means; A strike button adapted to be actuated when ten pins are knocked down by the first ball of a frame; electromechanical means associating the strike button with the score-totalizing means, memory device, and framecounting means for instantly increasing the score by 10 when the strike button is actuated while the memory device is in neutral status, for instantly increasing the score by 20 when the strike button is actuated while the memory device is in either spare status or strike status, and for instantly increasing the score by 30 when the strike button is actuated while the memory device is in double strike status; a spare button; electromechanical means associating the spare button with the score-totalizing means, memory device, and framecounting means for instantly increasing the score by 10 when the spare button is actuated while the memory device is in neutral status and for instantly increasing the score by 20 when the spare button is actuated while the memory device is in strike status; a group of unit buttons, one for each of the numbers 0 through 9; electromechanical means associating each unit button with the score totalizing means, memory device, and framecounting means for instantly increasing the score by the selected number when a unit button is actuated while the memory device is in any status other than strike status and for instantly increasing the score by twice the selected number when a unit button is actuated while the memory device is in strike status; electromechanical means associating the memory device with the unit buttons, strike button, spare button, and framecounting means for making any necessary adjustment of the memory device, subsequent to advancing the score after actuation of any button for maintaining the memory device in accurate correspondence with the previous event of the game; and electromechanical means responsive to any button actuation except unit button actuation during spare or double strike status for advancing the framecounting means subsequent to any adjustment of the memory device.
 2. A scorer of claim 1 in which the framecounting means is advanced to zero at the end of the game for instructing the player about the bonus balls previously earned.
 3. A scorer of claim 1 in which an instruction to score the first fall of a frame is actuated when the memory device is in spare status or double strike status.
 4. A scorer of claim 3 wherein at least one markable tape is fed through a printout zone, wherein said score totalizing means prints out a total score by units, tens, and hundreds printing means, wherein printing means print out the number of the frame the memory status prior to the achievement, the achievement entered into the scorer, the memory status carried over after the achievement, the marginal increase in the score by such achievement, the first ball of a frame, and the bonus balls, and in which said instruction to score the first ball of a frame is an electrical signal which is actuated only when such scoring is required. 